Vacuum cleaner with dirt-bag feed and ejection



Dec. 5, 1950 E. P. SENNE 2,532,

VACUUM CLEANER WITH DIRT-BAG FEED AND EJECTION Filed Dec. 28, 1946 4 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. EDGAR P. sENNF:

ATTOQNE Y5.

Dec. 5, 1950 E. P. SENNE 2,532,642

VACUUM CLEANER WITH DIRT-BAG FEED AND EJECTION Filed Dec. 28, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTO.Q.

EDGAR P. SEN NE A T TOQNEYS.

Dec. 5, 1950 SENNE 2,532,642

VACUUM CLEANER WITH DIRT-BAG FEED AND EJECTION Filed Dec. 28, l946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 83 IN VEN T05. EDGAR P. SENNE l A r TOQNE Y5.

Dec. 5, 1950 E. P. SENNE VACUUM CLEANER WITH DIRT-BAG FEED AND EJECTION Filed Dec. 28, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOQ. EDGAR P. SENN /Ww M Us A W TTOQNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER WITH DIRT-BAG FEED AND EJECTION 29 Claims. 1

The object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having means to feed successive dirt bags from a magazine, as required, and to expel from the machine dirt bags which have become wholly or partially laden with dirt.

In the annexed drawings illustrating one possible embodiment and forming a part hereof:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the moving parts and reiated mechanisms actuated by the solenoid and the main spring;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the machine, parts being cut away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section of Fig. 2, showing the pressure responsive means for initiating the machine cycle of operation;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, some parts being shown in elevation, on the plane -6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan View, with some parts broken away, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a partial plan, corresponding to Fig. 7, showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the plane 93 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram.

A complete vacuum cleaner which embodies the present invention comprises a chassis, containing a dirt-filtering bag and motor-fan unit; a hose; and a cleaning wand with suitable cleaning attachment. Since the present invention is concerned with elements contained within the chassis, the description will be limited to that unit. It will be understoodthat a suitable hose, cleaning wand and cleaning attachment are to be employed in connection with the chassis here described.

General structure According to the embodiment shown, the chassis is contained within an outer case lo (Figs. 2 and 3), of sheet steel or other appropriate material, which may be of any desired outward configuration or shape. In the present application, for convenience, a case is shown having generally the shape of a, cube, but it is intended that the present invention may be incorporated in a chassis of the outward configuration or shape shown in my copending application Serial No. 702,389, filed October 10, 1946, (now abandoned) or otherwise, or that it may be suspended in the manner there shown or built to embody the invention there claimed. The description which follows illustrates one embodiment of my present invention.

Within the case a horizontal wall I l constitutes the floor, and a horizontal wall l2 constitutes the ceiling, of a filtering compartment 13 (Figs. 2 and 3). containing a motor-fan unit l5 suitably mounted and secured therein. A vertical wall 92 (Fig. 2) positioned between walls II and I2 and secured at each end to case ill defines a solenoid compartment 93. Walls H, 12, and 92 are secured to each other and to case It in such manner as to be sufficiently air-tight along their edges to maintain the pressure differentials set up in the several compartments as hereinafter described.

Openings, controlled by the movable doors, described below, are located in these walls and in the casing. In the casing, opening 94 constitutes a doorway from atmosphere'to the rear end of filtering compartment 13 and is closed by door 6|; louvers 48 constitute an opening from the atmosphere to the rear end of motor-fan compartment i4 and are closed by door 41 openings l9 constitute an opening from atmosphere to the front end of motor-fan compartment It and are closed by door 5 3. In wall H, openings it constitute a passageway between the rear of filtering compartment I3 and the rear of motorfan compartment l4 and are closed by door ll; and opening 66 constitutes a passageway between the front of filtering compartment [3 and the front of motor-fan compartment 54 and is closed by door 54.

The several doors above referred to are moved during the machine cycle of operation hereinalter described. Doors All and 5d serve as valves for the respective passageways and openings which they control.

A partial vertical wall 95, located within filtering compartment 13 and secured to walls H and I2 and, at one end, to case It, defines with one side of case Iii a magazine 96 for the storage and feeding of box-like containers Al in which dirt-filtering bags are folded ready for inflation and use. This magazine and the boxes are further described below.

An intake manifold i8 (Fig. 3) penetrates case Ill and extends into filtering compartment l3 where it is adapted to be in register with the open end of a filtering bag ll secured within compartment IS. The air hose (not shown) is adapted to be engaged in any suitable manner with intake manifold l6, which may be pro vided with attachment means It)! complementary to the attachment means of the hose, in the normal manner.

Positioned within compartment i3 is a movable carriage 24, mounted within a track con- Beneath wall II is a compartment M 3 sisting of fixed upper and lower rails 25, 21. Carriage E l consists of lower plate 91 and top plate as Fig. 5) secured together by side plate 99. Lower rollers 25 journalled in side plate and a flange of lower plate 9? roll upon rail 2?. Upper rollers we, journalled in side plate 99 and a flange of top plate 93, roll along the underside of upper rail 25. The carriage is adapted to receive, between plates $2 and 98, a box-like container 25 containing a folded filtering bag. Movement of carriage as, during the machine cycle of operation hereinafter described, causes it to select a box 2! from magazine 95, to trans port it to operating position, and to secure it there for filtering. Movement of the carriage,

during the next cycle, causes it to release this box for expulsion from the machine.

General modeof operation By the means hereinafter described, the machine operates to perform among others the fol lowing principal steps:

(al Eur normal operations (while being used as a cleaner), filtering bag it is held in position as shown Fig. 3, door 5! is closed, and doors and are in such position that the fan draws air through intake manifold it, through the bag, from filtering compartment l3 to motor-fan compartment i i, and thence expels it to atmosphere as shown by the solid arrows on 8.

(b) During the first part of its machine cycle of operation (expulsion of a dirt-laden bag), bag i? is released from securement, door 55 is opened, doors :3? and are moved to positions such that the fan draws air from the atmosphere through louvers i3 and propels it into the forward end of compartment 53 as shown by broken arrows on Fig. 3, thus expelling dirt-laden bag I? outwardly through opening as.

During a further phase of cycle of ope ation (replacement of a fresh bag), a fresh bo-x- -ke container 25 (containing a fresh bag) is selected from magazine 98, is transported by carriage 2 to operative position, and the doors i? and are returned to original position, whereupon the normal flow of air (solid arrows) is restored and the fresh bag is inflated within compartment i3.

the machine Filtering and intake manifold For the purposes of this invention I prefer to use a dirt bag which is initially folded within a cox-like container generally of the type shown in my copending applications Serial No. 691,795, filed August 20, 1946 (now abandoned) and Serial No. 27,27? filed May 15, 19-18 although the invention here disclosed is not intended to be limited thereto. A folded bag within a box-like container is referred to generally herein by the reference numeral 23, which is applied in the annexed drawings to each of a series of box-like containers in magazine ihe reference numeral BI is applied to the one of these devices which is at he filtering position in registry with intake manifold l6.

Each of these devices 2i (see Figs. 3, 5 and 6) comprises a box, of stiff material such as cardboard, having four sides i i i, a front wall H3 and a rear wall iPi. Front wall H3 is pierced by an orifice H2, preferably circular in shape, which may be provided with a stiffened rim I25 of metal, of proper size to engage the reduced end of movable head 6'! of the intake manifold l5. Rim I projects outwardly of the face of wall H3 and thereby serves to separate the boxes somewhat as they lie packed together in magazine :36 (see Fig. 2).

Secured to the inner face of wall H3, inside the box, are two thin sheets H4, H5 of rubber, stitched or glued to wall E 13 around the marginal edges of orifice H2, which lie in the same plane with their edges touching along a line which is substantially a diameter of the opening H2.

The two sheets of rubber ll l, H 5 form a resilient or yieldable curtain extending across and closing. the orifice. H2. This curtain remains in position until the box is engaged with the end of the intake manifold as set forth below.

Within supporting shell Ill is folded an open-- mouth collapsible, air-permeable dirt-filtering bag ll with its open mouth secured to shell iii by stitching or glueing in such manner that the mouth of the bag is in registry with the orifice H2. The bag may be made of muslin or other suitable fabric, or it may be made of air-permeable paper of suitable density. Bag I! is, prior to inflation, compactly folded within shell ill in the manner of a parachute.

Rear wall I 2i is pierced by an orifice i l 8 which is opposite to and in alinement with orifice H2. Preferably orifice H3 is so large in reference to the area of wall l2l that only narrow flanges remain of that wall, just enough to retain the folded bag in place until it is inflated. Bag I? is folded within the box in such manner that the bottom of the bag serves as a closure for orifice 5 it while the bag remains folded within the box. Orifice H8 is sufficiently large, however, so that, when air pressure is applied to the interior of the folded bag through orifice H2, the body of the bag will be forced out through orifice l l 8 (the edges of the latter exerting little restraint upon it) and will be inflated through orifice H8, its open mouth and neck portion being retained within the box. The bag is folded within the box in such manner that it will not ordinarily bedislodged except by air pressure applied through orifice I52.

Movement of movable head it"! of the intake manifold it toward box 2|, in the manner hereinai'ter described, causes the nose of head 67 to penetrate orifice H2 and to become seated firm ly in contact with rim E25, forming a relatively air-tight connection. In so doing the nose passesthrough rim i2 9 and moves a sufficient distance into the box to distort rubber sheets fi l and H5 from a position adjacent the plane of wall I it to the distorted position shown in Fig. 3. The extent of penetration of the nose, and the thickness and tension of the rubber sheets lid and I 85, is so adjusted that when the nose reachesa seated position in rim 12f), substantial-1y increased tension is set up in the rubber sheets,

causing them to separate along the line which divides them and to assume a. separated or open position indicated by dotted lines H5 and ill (Fig. 6.). In this position the edges of the rubber sheets. are sufiiciently parted and thrust aside S0, as to offer no substantial impediment to the flow of air through the intake manifold and, in this position, the intake manifold I6. is effective 1y connected with the. open mouth of the folded bag I], ready for inflation of the latter. Air thereafter passing through the intake manifold, and applied as pressure against the interior of the folded bag within the box, forces the bag out through the rear orifice I Hi and inflates it with in the filtering compartment is, as shown in Fig. 3, with the open mouth of the bag securely at-- tached within shell I I I. In this position the bag is ready for use as a dirt-filtering medium.

During the next succeeding machine cycle of operation, the movable head Si is retracted, by means hereinafter described, from its seated position within rim IZE. Such retraction releases rubber sheets I M and l i from distorted position, and they thereupon resume their original position, with their edges substantially in contact, thus forming an effective curtain or closure for the open end of the bag which prevents dirt coming out of the bag as the latter is expelled from the machine by air pressure. It is contemplated that the bag, whose open end thus becomes effectively closed during and after its expulsion from the machine, may then be disposed of without emptying or re-use.

Magazine and carriage Magazine 95 is suitably arranged to hold a row of box-like dirt extractors ZI in position so that they may be supplied one by one to carriage 24. A hinged cover, not shown, permits the magazines to be refilled. A spring 22 urges these extractors forward toward the discharge end of the magazine (the left, as seen in Fig. 2) between wall 95 and guide plate H9. The dirt extractor 2i at the delivery end of the magazine is supported upon a flexible plate 255, upwardly urged by spring 283, in position ready to be grasped by spring clips 28 associated with carriage 2d and then moved laterally to operative position with the carriage.

Spring clips 28, secured to upper and lower plates 98, 9? of the carriage, are adapted to engage the upper and lower corners of the dirt extractor box 2d at the forward end of the magazine as indicated at 28'. Walls 2e, 29 fixed to upper and lower plates 98, 9? but extending somewhat less than half the length thereof, prevent rearward displacement of a box resting within the carriage while the box is in registry with the walls. Rims 28 on each box project outwardly so as to separate adjacent boxes in the magazine to an extent sufiicient to admit walls 29, 28 between adjacent boxes. A spring clip 55f; mounted on bracket 3I secured to wall 92 engages the corner beading of box 21 at the moment that the carriage, moving towards the position of rest seen in Fig. 5, has reached that position. Clip 35 se- I cures box 25 against displacement to the left when, in a subsequent cycle of operation, the carriage moves to the left to pick up a new box. During each movement walls .29 are removed from engagement with the top and bottom, re spectively of box it by leftward movement of carriage 2 3, and when the carriage has moved far enough (to the position indicated at 29) to remove walls 29 from contact therewith, box 2! is then released for ejection by air pressure out of the filtering compartment It as elsewhere described.

Operating mechanism Mounted within solenoid compartment 93 is a solenoid 32 (see Figs. 1 and 2) adapted, when 45 to which is secured door 47. During normal operation of the machine door A? is held by the tension of spring 3 2 in the seated position shown in Fig. 3 (also Fig. 1) where it closes an entrance including the louvers 48 from atmosphere to the motorfan compartment It.

Bevel gear M3, on the other end of horizontal shaft :32, is in mesh with bevel gear 59 secured on horizontal shaft 58. A pinion 5i secured on shaft 523 meshes with a pinion 52 secured on shaft 53. Secured to shaft 53 is a door M which is normally held by the tension of spring as in the position shown in Fig. 1 (also indicated at 55 at Fig. 3) where it prevents air from passing from the motor-fan compartment Is to the filtering compartment I3.

Gear wheel 38 (Figs. 1 and 2) is secured upon stubshaft 56. Also secured upon this shaft is lever 5'! which is caused to move, under the influence of rotation of stubs'naft 5?, through a lim ited arc of rotation. Each end of the lever 5i is slotted for engagement with a vertical pin. Slot 58 engages pin 59 secured. upon a bracket to attached to sliding door Si. Sliding door normally closes opening Ed in the rear end of the filtering compartment I3. During the cycle of operation hereafter described, door til slides laterally in suitable guides (not shown) to the position indicated at 6!. At the end of the cycle of operation it returns to its original position. Motion is imparted to the door El through lever 57, pin 59 and bracket 60.

At the other end of lever 51 slot 52 engages vertical pin 53, secured by brackets es and 65 to the carriage 24. Thus, clockwise rotation of lever 5! (as seen in Figs. 1 and 2) propels the carriage from the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6'toward the left for the purpose of pickingup a fresh box from the magazine.

Intake manifold I6 is provided with a movabl head 61 (Fig. 3) secured to the manifold by spring bellows 68 which urge the head to a seated posi-- tion within rim I2!) of box ZI'. Head 5! is susceptible of being moved axially of the intake manifold, against the compression of spring bellows 68, by means associated with the carriage 24. Secured to movable head 6? are pins I59, IE3. Sloping surfaces II, 12 forming a part of the carriage 24 and movable with it, are so disposed that, when the carriage moves to the left, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, surfaces ll, I2 engage the respective pins 69, lb and force head 67 out wardly from its seated position within rim I 2c against the compression of bellows 68. A second sloping surface I3, likewise forming part of and movable with the carriage 2%, on further movement of the carriage (as shown in Fig. 8) engages the noseof movable head I52 and moves it still farther in the same direction. As carriage 24 moves all the way to the left (farther even than as shown in Fig. 8) the fiat surface M, forming part of the carriage, engages the open end of movable head 6'! and, at the extreme excursion of the carriage, seals the opening into the head and prevents air pressure within filtering compartment I3 from escaping through intake manifold I6.

Upon actuation of the solenoid, a machine cycle of operation begins which, during the time that the parts are moving from the original position of rest to their extreme excursion, has the effect of moving door ii from the position shown in full lines (in Fig. 3) to the position i shown in dotted lines; moving door 54 from the position indicated at 55 (in Fig. 3) to the position indicated at 55; moving door 6! from the position shown in full lines (in Fig. 2) to the posi tion 6! indicated in dotted lines; moving the carriage 2 1 from the position shown in full lines (in Fig. to the position 26' indicated in dotted lines; retracting the nose of the intake manifold so that it is no longer in engagement with the rim I28 of box and, furthermore, so that surface I i has moved across and has closed the entrance to the intake manifold; causing the carriage 24 to move to the left (as seen in Fig. 5). till walls 29, 29 have moved from behind box 2| and no longer secure it against rearward movement; causing lower plate 3? of the carriage to depress plate 23 so as to move under the first box 21 in the magazine; and causing spring clips 28 to engage the far corners of this box in readiness for moving it from the magazine to operative position. The result is two-fold: (a) box 2|, whose inflated bag occupies the filtering compartment i3, is no longer restrained and is free to move under the influence of air pressure appli d to its shoulders; and (1)) air drawn by motor-fan unit no longer passes through the machine according to the normal pathway (solid arrows in Fig. 3) but is diverted to a temporary pathway (indicated by broken arrows in Fig. 3). This temporary pathway pressure is applied to box 2| and to the shoulders of bag I? in such manner as to expel the box and bag from case H) by way of opening 9 3. After the used bag has thus been expelled from the machine, the second phase of the machine cycle begins.

During the second phase of the cycle the parts are returned to original position by energy which has been stored in spring 34 during the first part of the cycle. Door ii returns from position t? to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3; door 56 moves from the position to position 55 as shown in Fig. 3; door El moves from position to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2; and the carriage moves from the position 24" shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 to the position shown in solid lines in that figure carrying with it a fresh box taken from the magazine. As carriage 25 moves toward its normal position of rest sloping surfaces and it move insuch fashion as to permit movable head 5?- to be advanced by energy stored in the spring bellows (i8, and at the close of the cycle of operation the nose of movable head El is forced into seated engagement with rim 52% of new box 21" and thereby distorts the rubber sheets H4- and H5 thereof, thus opening the orifice H2 in this box. Restoration of the air flow to its normal pathway causes air to flow through intake manifoldi5 and thus to force bag ii through the rear orifice H8 of box 25' and to inflate the bag so that it is fully distended within filtering compartment I3. The machine is now ready for normal operation, and remains so until bag I? has become filled or partially filled with dirt, and the cycle above-mentioned is repeated.

Automatic actuation of the operating mechanism The means for initiating the machine cycle of operation above described is responsive to a fall of pressure at some point between the bag and the intake of the fan, during normal filtering operation, to or below a predetermined pressure 1 corresponding to (and caused by) a substantial incrustation of dirt on the inside of the bag.

By way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, it is contemplated that under normal operating conditions, with a relatively permeable type of paper bag free from dirt, the pressure in the filtering compartment [3 (outside the bag) will be approximately equal to a water lift (against atmosphere) of 36 inches. This pressure falls, compared with atmospheric pressure, as the bag gradually becomes laden with dirt. According to the present invention, the fall of pressure at a point between the bag and the fan (for example, in filtering compartment i3 outside the bag) is utilized as a means to measure the amount of dirt within the bag, and when this pressure falls to a level corresponding to a substantial incrustation of dirt on the inside of the bag, means responsive to this fall of pressure are then employed for the purpose of initiating the machine cycle which, among other things, will eject the dirt-laden bag and substitute a fresh one in its place. In the example indicated above, the pressure responsive means may be arranged to initiate the machine cycle when this pressure has fallen to a level corresponding to about 46 to 48 inches of water. The figures given are those appropriate for use in connection with a particular bag. Where bags are made of other kinds of paper, or of fabric, the critical pressure at which ejection occurs should be adjusted according to the character of the bag used. The foregoing figures are given upon the assumption that a standard motor fan unit I5 is used corresponding to present commercial practice.

Any suitable responsive means may be used, and it may be located at any point where the pressure above mentioned is available to be measured. I prefer to use, however, a spring bellows (Figs. 2 and 4), one end of which is secured to a ring l6 and the other end of which is secured to a plate "El. Ring 76 may be securely mounted against case is in such manner that its central aperture registers with one or more small holes is in the case which thereby aiTord communication between the interior of bellows l5 and the outer atmosphere. Plate 7! is adjustably secured to the reciprocating plunger '19 of switch 80. Switch to is securely mounted within filtering compartment l3. In the particular arrangement here shown, the outer surface of bellows i5 is subject to the influence of the pressure existing within filtering compartment I3 (outside the bag), whereas the inner surface of bellows i5 is under the influence of atmospheric pressure. Difierences between these pressures consequently produce, through expansion and contraction of spring bellows 75, relative movement between plate ii and ring i6. This movement is transmitted to plunger ii! and thereby actuates switch 86. Consequently, a fall of pressure within filtering compartment is tends, when the pressure has fallen below a predetermined level determined by the characteristics of the bellows and W the adjustment of the connection thereof with plunger is, to actuate switch 89'. Switch 80 is a two-pole switch with movable contact member, in which each advance of plunger '79 advances the movable member from contact with one of the poles to contact with the other pole, of any conventional design.

The means above described initiates the machine cycle. Additional means, now to be described, responsive to extreme excursion of the moving parts during the cycle, initiates return movement thereof to the starting position after the passage of a predetermined interval of time.

Secured to case it is a timer switch 8| (Fig. 2) having an actuating member 82 disposed in the path of travel of, and adapted to be actuated by,

vertical pin 63 secured to carriage 24. Switch 8! may be any one of the well-known types of two-pole switches in which actuation starts a timer mechanism which operates for a predetermined length of time at the end of which the movable contact member moves from one pole to the other. Inasmuch as such switches are known, I do not describe the structure in detail. Switch 8! is illustrated by conventional symbol in the wiring diagram of Fig. 10.

A main switch 83 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided for energizing the circuits within the enclosing case Ill. Preferably this switch is controlled by a manually operated button 54 projecting externally of the case.

The circuit arrangements are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10. Closing of main switch 83 energizes motor fan unit l5 and also energizes a supplementary circuit containing solenoid 32, switch 8!! and timer switch 8 l. Pole 35a of switch 8!; is connected through conductor 85 to pole 85b of switch 8! the other pole 86a of switch 8%} is connected through conductor 86 to the other pole 86b of switch 8|.

In normal operation of the machine the movable member of switch 83 is connected to one of poles 85a, 85a, and the movable member of timer switch 8! is connected to the opposite pole 85b, 85b,-as indicated in Fig. 10. Under these conditions no current flows through solenoid 32.

When the machine cycle of operation is to be initiated, the movable member of switch 80 is moved to the opposite pole, by the means previously described. For example, assuming (as shown in Fig. 10) that the movalble member of switch 80 is in contact with pole 85a, the actuation of plunger 79 moves the movable member to effect a connection with pole 850,. At this time the movable member of timer switch 8! is in contact with pole 8%. Consequently, current flows through the solenoid and its energization causes the moving parts to pass through the cycle of operation previously described. One of the parts moved by the solenoid is pin 63. As pin 63 approaches the end of its path of travel representing its extreme excursion from normal position (shown at 63 in Fig. 2) it strikes the actuating member 82 of timer switch 8|. This sets in operation the timer mechanism of switch 8|. While the timer mechanism is in operation the movable member of switch Bl remains in contact with pole 85b and thus the solenoid continues to be energized and holds the moving parts in the position of extreme excursion indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. During this time, the doors 41, 54 and SI are held in such positions, previously described, as enable the motor-fan unit E5 to draw air from the atmosphere and to propel it into the front end of filtering compartment 53. During this time, likewise, surface i i of carriage 24 is in contact with the nose of'movabl-e head 67 of intake manifold 16, thus preventing air within filtering compartment I3 from escaping through the intake manifold. During this time, also, box 2| and attached bag ll which has previously been inflated within the filtering compartment and is now laden with dirt, is no longer restrained by walls 29 of the carriage mechanism which formerly secured it from rearward displacement, and consequently the box and bag are free to be propelled out of the filtering compartment through rear opening 9d uncovered by the opening of door 6!. During this time, there:-

fore, the blast of air from the 12101 1 fan unit a pressure.

is employed for the purpose of expelling the used bag from the machine.

The timer mechanism of switch Bl is so adjusted as to provide suiiicient opportunity for the box and bag to be expelled. Ordinarily, approximately two seconds is enough for this purpose.

Upon completion of the operation of timer mechanism within switch 8!, the movable contact of that switch is moved from the position shown in Fig. 10 to make contact with pole 861). This breaks the circuit through solenoid 32 which is thereupon de-energized. De-energization of solenoid 32 permits energy stored in spring 34 to return bar 33 to its starting position within solenoid 32 and return movement of bar 33 actuates the moving parts through a cycle which is the reverse of that previously described, and which has the eifect of restoring the several doors to their normal positions, moving carriage 2Q from pick-up position 2% (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5) to its normal position (shown in solid lines in Fig. 5) carrying with it a new box 2! taken from the magazine and containing therein a fresh folded bag. Return movement of the carriage uncovers the nose of movable head 61 of the intake manifold l5 and permits this nose to move fdrward under the influence of spring bellows 53 until the nose has entered orifice I20 of the new box and has distorted and thrust aside the rubber sheets lid, H5 thereof. Air flowing through intake manifold it, in response to suction of the fan, thereupon inflates the new bag so that it assumes the position I! within filtering compartment [3 and normal filtering operation is resumed.

The above-described mechanism contemplates that the pressure responsive means for initiating the machine cycle of operation (namely, spring bellows 15) is so located as to be responsive to differences between the pressure existing between the outside of the bag and the fan (i. e., in filtering compartment 53) and atmospheric pressure. When the pressure responsive means is thus located, it has been found that stoppage or blockading of the cleaning attachment secured to the end of the cleaning wand may cause the machine cycle to be initiated. Such stoppage may be occasioned by a cloth or rug being sucked into the cleaning attachment. To prevent this from initiating the machine cycle unnecessarily, I pro- .vide a supplementary air bleed valve 31 (Fig. 3)

affording access, when open, from the atmosphere to the interior of intake manifold I6. Valve 8'5 seats upon a seat 88 connected to a pipe 89 leading to atmosphere. Valve 8! is pressed against its seat by spring ac. The space above valve 8? communicates through hole (H with the interior of intake manifold it. Thus the spring tends to hold valve 8i seated against atmospheric When the pressure inside manifold [6 falls below a level which would otherwise cause the pressure between the outside of the bag and the fan to fall so far as to cause switch 89 to be actuated, atmospheric pressure opens valve 8? against the compression of spring 98 and bleeds atmospheric air into manifold It. It is impossible to state in general terms what should be the resistance of spring Si) in any particular machine, since that depends upon the nature and permeability of the bag being used. The most that can be stated is that the spring 90 is so tensioned as to bleed atmospheric air into the intake manifold when stoppage or partial stoppage occurs in the wand and its attachment or in the hose, so as to prevent unnecessary and unwanted initiation of the machine cycle above described. Bleed valve 81 is here shown for convenience as being located within casing It. It would be equally effective for the purpose described if it were located anywhere along the cleaning wand and its attachment or the hose where undue pressure fall is to be compensated.

Alternatively, the pressure responsive means for initiating the machine cycle of operation (namely, spring bellows I) may be so arranged as to be responsive to differences in pressure between the pressure existing between the outside of the bag and the fan (i. e., in filtering compartment E3) and the pressure existing in intake manifold Hi. This arrangement may be effected by providing an enclosed air pathwa between the interior of bellows l5 and the interior of manifold It, for example. a pipe. In this case bleed valve 3! could, if desired, be omitted.

Manual tripping of the automatic actuation Alternatively, means may be provided for manual tripping of the power-driven means for actuating the operating mechanism. Such manual trip may, for example. consist of a manually-operable button [32 (Figs. 2 and 4) for depressing the plunger is of switch 8E3. In this case, the shaft of plunger it may be extended lengthwise through bellows '15 by means of an extension shaft me. rigidly connected with plate H or integral with plunger '59, which passes through case i5 and supports button 32 outside the case. By manual pressure upon button M 2, switch at may be actuated and thus the machine cycle of operation above described may be started.

Manual operation of the operating mechanism Alternatively. the entire mechanism may be simplified so that all of the moving parts are hand-actuated, omitting solenoid 3,2 and switcher 8!! and 8!, and the electrical circuits connecting them. In this event, some one of the moving elements forming part of the operating mechanism is provided with an extension which serves as a hand-actuated control. Preferably, in such ada tation, to an upward ext nsion I 34 of stubshaft 56 (Figs. 1 and 3) there is secured an oper ating arm 35 having at the other end a button Hi6. Button N35 is ac essible by opening the top of the casing iii in any convenient manner (not shown). The solenoid -2, bellows 5 and switch 80, bleed valve 8? and associated parts, and switch 8!, are then omitted. In this arrangement the valves and carriage doors are retained, together with the portions of the operatin mechanism which cause them to move together in unison, including bar 33, spring 3 shafts 39. 42 and 5t and associated gearing. With the apparatus thus modified. the operator of the machine may cause it to expel a bag and to feed a new bag to filtering position in the following manner: With switch 33 closed and the motor-fan unit running, the operator grasps button I66 and rotates arm I95 (in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. l) as far as it will go, holds it there till the old bag has been expelled, and then lets the arm 1% return under the influence of spring 35. Thus, manual force moves the operating mechanism, and the parts actuated thereby, through what has been described above as the first phase of the machine cycle of operation, and in so doing loads spring t l. When the limit of movement' is reached, the operator holds the arm for the time necessary for air pressure to expel the old bag (in the manner previously described). On releasing the arm, spring 3 supplies the power necessary to return the several parts to their original positions and thereby to move the mechanism and parts through what has been described as the second phase of the machine cycle of operation described above.

The invention which is the subject of the pres ent application is hereinabove shown in an embodiment which includes the parts elements, and the location and arrangement thereof, which are the best presently known to for the purpose. It is not intended that the invention shall be regarded as limited to the particular parts or elements, or the location or arrangement thereof, except where so specified in the annexed claims, but that the invention shall be taken to be that which is set forth in the following claims.

I laim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner chassis, in ombination, a fan, a filtering compartment ha an exit, a movable member adapted in a first position to in a second position to release the neck of the bag, a movable door adapted in a position to block said exit from the filtering compartment and in a second position to unblock said exit, and air valves and operating mechanism for each thereof movable to a position in which a current of air propelled by said fan is directed against the outside of the bag during the time the member and the door are in their second positions, whereby to expel the bag from the chassis by air pressure.

2. In a vacuum cleaner chassis, in combination, a fan, a filtering compartment having an exit, a movable member adapted in a first position to secure the neck of a filtering bag while the bag is inflated within said filtering compartm nt and in a second position to release the neck of the bag, a movable door adapted in a first position to block said exit and in a second position to unblock said exit, movable air valves adapted in a first position to cause air propelled b said fan to be drawn through the bag and expelled to atmosphere and in a second position to cause air propelled by the same fan to be drawn from atmosphere and directed against the outside of the bag in a direction to expel it through said exit, and operating mechanism for each of the said movable parts arranged and adapted for moving all of them simultaneously from first to second position and vice versa.

3. A combination as in claim 2 including pressure responsive means responsive to air pressure prevailing outside the bag while air is being drawn through the bag adapted to energize said operating mechanism when said pressure has changed to a value corresponding to a substantial accumulation of dirt in the bag.

4. In a vacuum cleaner chassis, in combination, a fan, a filtering compartment having an exit, a movable member adapted in a first position to secure the neck of a fi tering bag while the bag is inflated within said filtering compartment and in a second position to release the neck of the bag, a movable door adapted in a first position to block said exit and in a second position to unblock said exit, movable air valves adapted in a first position to cause air propelled by said fan to be drawn through the bag and expelled to atmosphere and in a second position to cause air propelled by the same fan to be drawn from atmosphere and directed against the outside of the bag in a direction to expel it through the exit, operating mechanisms connected to each of said movable parts for moving them from first to second position and vice versa, electrically-driven means and a switch controlling the same for actuating said mechanisms simultaneously in at least one of the directions between first and second positions, and a diaphragm responsive to change in the air pressure prevailing outside the bag while air is being drawn through the bag adapted to cause the actuation of said switch controlling the electrically-driven means.

5. In a vacuum cleaner chassis, in combination, a fan, a filtering compartment having an exit, a movable member adapted in a first position to secure the neck of a filtering bag while the bag is inflated within said filtering compartment and in a second position to release the neck of the bag, a movable door adapted in a first position to block said exit and in a second position to unblock said exit, movable air valves adapted in a first position to cause air propelled by said fan to be drawn through the bag and expelled to atmosphere and in a second position to cause air propelled by the same fan to be drawn from atmosphere and directed against the outside of the bag in a direction to expel it through the exit, levers connected to each of said movable parts and to each other for moving all of said movable parts simultaneously from first to second positions and vice versa, and manually-operable means for causing said levers to be moved in at least one direction.

6. In a vacuum cleaner chassis having an air intake manifold, in combination, a magazine for holding a supply of folded filtering bags, means within the magazine to advance one of said folded bags to a delivery point, a movable carriage ada ted to receive said folded bag at the delivery point and to transport it while folded to a position where its mouth is in alinement with said air intake manifold, and restraining means associated with the carriage to keen the mouth of the bag in register with the manifold while the body of the bag is inflated by air passing through the manifold into the mouth of the bag.

7. In a vacuum c eaner chassis, in combination, a magazine for holding a supply of boxes containing folded dirt-filtering bags and presenting one of said boxes at a delivery point, an air intake manifold adapted to transmit dirt-laden air to a filtering position, a carriage movable between said delivery point and said filtering position, means associated with the carriage to grasp a box at the delivery point and to secure it to the carriage for movement with the latter to filtering position, and restraining means effective at the filtering position to secure the box in contact with the manifold, said restraining means being no longer effective for this purpose when the carriage returns to the delivery point whereby upon such return the box is released for removal from filtering position.

8. In a vacuum cleaner chassis, in combination, a magazine for fresh filtering bags, a movable carriage for transporting fresh bags one by one from the magazine to a filtering position in alinement with an air intake manifold, and means associated with the carriage to secure the head of the manifold in depressed position while a new bag is being transported to filtering position.

9. In a vacuum cleaner which has a magazine for holding a supply of fresh filtering bags, the

combination of an air intake manifold having a depressible delivery head, a carriage for transporting fresh bags from the magazine to a position in alinement with the manifold, and means associated with the carriage adapted to depress the head of the manifold when the carriage moves toward the magazine.

10. In a vacuum cleaner chassis which has a magazine for holding a supply of boxes containing folded dirt-filtering bags and a carriage for transporting such boxes one at a time from the magazine to filtering position, the combination of an air intake manifold having a spring-actuated depressible delivery head, and means movable with and mounted upon the carriage for permitting said head to advance under influence of its spring to engage the box when the carriage has transported a fresh box to filtering position.

11. In a vacuum cleaner chassis which has a magazine for holding a supply of boxes containing folded dirt-filtering bags and a carriage for transporting such boxes one at a time from the magazine to filtering position, the combination of an air intake manifold having a spring-actuated depressible delivery head, means mounted on the head adapted to be engaged by the carriage, and surfaces movable with the carriage so shaped as to engage said means, thereby depressing the head, when the carriage moves toward the magazine, and to disengage said means, thereby releasing the head, when the carriage has returned to filtering position.

12. In a vacuum cleaner chassis having an air intake manifold leading to a filtering compartment and adjacent thereto a compartment containing a fan, the combination of a releasable retainer in the filtering compartment for releasably securing a dirt-filtering bag in alinement with the intake manifold, a movable door controlling an exit from the filtering compartment, movable valves controlling the flow of air to and from the fan, and commonly-actuated operating mechanisms for said retainer, door and valves so arranged and related that all of them may be moved simultaneously to cause air propelled by the fan. to expel the released bag from the filtering compartment through said exit.

13. In a vacuum cleaner chassis which has an air intake manifold leading to a filtering compartment and adjacent thereto a compartment containing a fan. the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of boxes containing folded filtering bags. a carriage movable between the magazine and a filtering position adjacent the in ake manifold, means mounted on and movable with the carriage to grasp a box from the magazine and to secure it to the carriage for movement with the latter to filtering position, and means located at filtering position to restrain the box from returning with the carriage when the carriage moves toward the magazine in a subsequent cycle of operation.

14. A vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of filter units and to load and replace each said filter unit when laden with accumulated dirt to a predetermined degree comprising, a magazine for holding at least one reserve filter unit, a filter unit retaining mechanism for holding an operative filter unit in operative position to filter air, an air propulsion device for propelling air to be filtered through said operative filter unit when in said operative position, and replacement machinery actuated in response to the attainment of said predetermined degree of loading for removing said operative unit from said operative position when laden to said predetermined degree and for transferring a reserve unit from said magazine to said operative position to replace the removed unit.

15. A mechanism as in claim 1% in which said replacement machinery includes said air propuision device together with means constructed and arranged to direct air from said device against said operative unit to accomplish the removal thereof.

6. A mechanism as in claim 14; in which said replacement machinery is constructed and arranged to be responsive to air pressure changes Within said mechanism efiected by the loading of said operative unit to said predetermined degree.

17. A vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of fresh filter units and to load and replace successively each said filter unit when laden with accumulated dirt to a predetermined degree comprising, a magazine for holding at least one reserve fresh filter unit, a filter unit retaining mechanism for holding an operative filter unit in operative position to filter air, and air propulsion device for propelling air to be filtered through said operative filter unit when in said operative position, and replacement machinery actuated in response to the attainment of said predetermined degree of loading for expelling said operative unit from said mechanism when laden to said predetermined degree and for transferring a reserve fresh unit from said magazine to said operative position to replace the expelled unit.

18. A mechanism as in claim 17 in which said replacement machinery includes said air propulsion device together with means constructed and arranged to direct air from said device against said operative unit to accomplish the expulsion thereof.

19. A mechanism as in claim 17 in which said replacement machinery is constructed and arranged to be responsive to air pressure changes within said mechanism efiected by the loading of said operative unit to said predetermined degree.

20. A vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of filter units and to load each said filter unit serially when the preceding unit becomes laden with accumulated dirt to a predetermined degree comprislng, a magazine for holding at least one reserve fresh filter unit, a filter unit retaining mechanism for holding a preceding filter unit in operative position to filter air, an air propulsion device for propelling air to be filtered through said preceding unit when in said operative position, and replacement machinery actuated in response to the attainment of said predetermined degree of loading in said preceding unit for transferring a reserve fresh unit from said magazine to said operative position to replace said preceding unit.

21. A mechanism as in claim 20 in which said replacement machinery is constructed and arranged to be responsive to air pressure changes within said mechanism effected by the loading of said preceding unit to said predetermined degree.

22. A vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of filter units and to load with dirt and replace each said filter unit serially as the preceding unit becomes laden with accumulated dirt and has been removed from said mechanism comprising in combination, a magazine for holding at least one reserve filter unit, a filter unit retaining mechanism for holding a preceding filter unit in operative position to filter air, an air propulsion device for propelling air to be filtered through said preceding unit when in said operative position, and replacement machinery actuatable after said preceding unit has been removed from said retainingmechanism for transferring a reserve filter unit from said magazine to said operative position in said retaining mechanism to replace said preceding unit.

23. A vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of filter units and to load with dirt and replace each said filter unit serially as the preceding unit becomes laden with accumulated dirt and has been removed from said mechanism comprising in combination, a magazine for holding at least one reserve filter unit, a filter unit retaining mechanism for holding an operative filter unit in operative position to filter air, an air propulsion device for propolling air to be filtered through said operative unit when in said operative position, means responsive to the accumulation of a predetermined amount of dirt in said operative unit to permit the removal of said operative unit from said retaining mechanism, and replacement machinery actuatable after said operative unit has been removed from said retaining mechanism to transfer a reserve filter unit from said magazine to said operative position in said retaining mechanism to replace the removed unit.

24. A vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of filter units and to load with dirt and thereafter replace each said filter unit comprising in combination, a magazine for holding at least one reserve filter unit, a filter unit retaining mechanism for holding an operative filter unit in operative position to filter air, an air propulsion device for propelling air to be filtered through said operative filter unit when in said operative position, and replacement machinery actuatable to remove an operative filter unit from said operative position in said retaining mechanism and to transfer a reserve filter unit from said magazine to said operative position in said retaining mechanism to replace the removed unit comprisin in combination, a filter unit releasing mechanism cooperating with said retaining mechanism and actuatable to release an operative filter unit therefrom, filter removal means for thereafter removing the so released unit from said retaining mechanism, and a filter transfer mechanism operable sequentially with said releasing mechanism and removal means and operable to remove a reserve filter unit from said magazine and transfer the same to said retaining mechanism.

25. A mechanism as in claim 24 in which said replacement machinery includes said air propulsion device and said removal means are constructed and arranged to direct air from said propulsion device against said released unit to accomplish the removal thereof.

26. A mechanism as in claim 25 including means for selectively causing said air propulsion device to propel atmospheric air through said filtering compartment and operative filter unit while said operative filter unit is held by said retainin mechanism and causing said air propulsion device to propel atmospheric air against released unit after actuation of said filter releasing mechanism.

27. A mechanism as in claim 24 including a chassis having an air filtering compartment in which said retaining mechanism is positioned, an

air propulsion compartment in which said air propulsion device is positioned, and valve means for selectively interconnecting said compartments with each other and the external atmosphere to cause said air propulsion device selectively to propel atmospheric air through said filtering compartment and operative filter unit while said operative unit is held by said retaining mechanism and to propel atmospheric air against said released units after actuation of said filter releasing mechanism to accomplish the removal thereof.

28. In combination in a vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to load a filter unit with dirt and thereafter remove the same from a loading position, a chassis having a filtering compartment includin a filter unit retainer adapted to be actuated to hold and release a filter unit and an air propulsion compartment including an air propulsion device, passageways interconnecting the air output end of each said compartment with the air input end of the other, passageways interconnecting the said input and output ends with the atmosphere outside said chassis, valve means in all said passageways, means for selectively actuating said valve means selectively to interconnect said compartments with each other and the atmosphere outside said chassis in such manner that said air propulsion device may propel atmospheric air through said filtering compartment and a filter unit when said unit is held by said retainer and in such manner that said propulsion device may propel air to expel said unit from said filtering compartment when released by said retainer.

29. In combination in a vacuum cleaner mechanism adapted to load a filter unit with dirt and thereafter remove the same from a loading 18 position, a chassis having a filtering compartment adapted to contain a filter unit and including an intake manifold for air to be filtered and a filter outlet port for ejection of a filter unit; an air propulsion compartment in said chassis including an exhaust outlet for filtered air, an air inlet port and an air propulsion device; a first passageway between said compartments for interconnecting the air input end of said air propulsion compartment with the air output end of said filtering compartment, a second passageway between said compartments for interconnecting the air output end of said air propulsion compartment with the air input end of said filtering compartment; means for selectively opening said manifold, said first passageway and said exhaust outlet to the flow of air while blocking said filter outlet port,- said second passageway and said air inlet port to the flow of air, and vice versa, whereby selectively to direct air to be filtered through such a, filter unit during normal operation of said mechanism, and to direct air against the same to effect ejection thereof from said filteroutlet port.

EDGAR P. SENNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,259,008 Fraser Mar. 12, 1918 1,797,409 Farmer Mar. 24, 1931 1,914,667 Kolla June 20, 1933 2,192,224 Frosberg Mar. 5, 1940 2,413,587 Smellie Dec. 31, 1946 

